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Part prohibition-era gangster movie and part spaghetti western, "Last Man Standing" is a film that is entertaining from beginning to end. This movie does not take itself seriously. The characters are as if from a comic book, lacking complexity, and the dialogue is cliche. It's theme of redemption for the morally challenged "hero" , "John Smith", performed by Bruce Willis saves it from being a mindless shoot 'em up. Doesn't sound too promising? Wait until you experience it. Two rival booze profiteering gangs, one Italians and one Irish, both from urban Chicago, compete with each other for control of the "old west" town near the Mexican border that they operate out of. "John Smith" rides into town, gets the idea that he can play them off of each other to make some money, but sympathy for the plight of three women interferes with his plans. Shooting, shooting and more shooting accompanied by the killing that results is the main action. If you like that sort of thing, then this is a great, over the top example. The real star of this movie is the atmospherics and the cast. The filming is done in such a way that you are immersed in the setting. Dust, heat, colorless wasteland of both nature and the soul. the musical soundtrack by Ry Cooder is amazing and my favorite part of the movie. I purchased the music as soon as I was able and listen to it often. One of my favorite soundtracks ever. Bruce Willis is excellent as usual and Christopher Walken is perfect as the sociopathic killer. Bruce Dern as the corrupt Sheriff and William Sanderson as the inn-keeper are great. This is a movie worth owning because you will watch it again and again.Read full review
Just in case you didn't know, Last Man Standing is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1961 masterpiece Yojimbo. And it isn't the first; Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars starring Clint Eastwood from 1964 is also a remake of that classic Japanese flick. Truth be told, "Fistful" is probably a truer model for "Last Man". Masterfully written and directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors, 48 Hrs., et al), the story is well suited for the 1930s prohibition-era setting in which it has been placed... Quite a jump from feudal Japan to the Old West and then Prohibition-era America... But it all comes together nicely... Bruce Willis comes through with the challenge to fill the shoes of, not only an American icon in Clint Eastwood, but the Japanese icon of Toshiro Mifune (Red Beard, The Bushido Blade) as well... Christopher Walken is great as always as is David Patrick Kelley who, unfortunately, this movie watcher hasn't seen much of outside Dreamscape and "Twin Peaks"... All in all, I would say that this movie is well worth the time to buy, ship and watch... 8/10...Read full review
With its unpaved streets and rickety buildings, Jericho, Texas is an unlikely outpost for gun-toting mobs from Chicago. But with Prohibition in full swing, tweed-suited rum-runners have corrupted and terrorized this sleepy border town. Civil law is dead. Like their bosses in the Windy City, the leaders of Jericho's rival crime families are warring for control of a lucrative bounty of booze: truckloads of 100-proof, making their way from Mexico to a thirsty nation's illicit network of gin joints and speakeasies. Fatefully, a mysterious loner, Smith, passes through looking for a place to spend the night, but quickly decides to cash in on the action. He cleverly hires himself out to each gang while remaining loyal to no one but himself. A soldier-of-fortune with his own agenda, he betrays both sides to the other in a bold attempt to destroy the bootleggers and rescue what remains of Jericho's shell-shocked residents. But a traitor cannot live among mercenaries without being exposed and killed. This movie is a must see for any lover of high-action gun fights and stone cold characters.Read full review
Newer remake of the old Clint Eastwood movie of the same genre named "Fistful of Dollars", this time with Bruce Willis as the "Man With No Name". It is the 1930's and Prohibition is in effect. Willis is passing through a small, dusty, dirty, south Texas town close to the Mexican border. He stops to let some people cross the street and by looking at a woman brings down the ire of thugs. He is threatened, and has his tire slashed, windshield and headlight broken. This all happens in clear view of the sheriff's office directly across the street. The sheriff, Bruce Dern, basically tells him to go to hell when he asks for assistance. He walks into an all but deserted bar & hotel where the proprietor tells him what is going on in this town named Jericho. It seems that there are two gangs of whiskey runners from Chicago using this place to illegally import booze across the Mexican border, one gang Italian and one Irish. The cops are on the take, and practically all of the good people have left. A sort of truce exists between the two gangs, at least until "Mr. Smith" (Willis) shows up. Just like Eastwood in the old western, he recognizes that with two waring gangs, there is a lot of money to be made by working for both gangs, clandestinely, of course. He does this well and successfully manages to work within both gangs against the other. Pretty good movie, with a lot of dust and dirt. Willis manages to kill practically everybody there, just like Clint did in "Fistful", and afterwards just drives away.Read full review
Love the era it is set in. Bruce Willis is a calm cool hero. Loved the shoot 'em up action. Bruce Dern played his part great! Clint Eastwood's A Fist Full of Dollars redone in the early 30's. Watched it five plus times already.
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